Graduate Center, CUNY - Doctoral Students’ Council Plenary Minutes – DRAFT – February 10, 2006
Members and Voting Alternates Present:
Anthropology: Tina Lee, Andrea Morrell Biology: Adam Kavalier, Selena Ahmed Chemistry: Marie Thomas (by proxy: Francois Laforge) Classics: Paul McBreen (alt.) Comparative Literature: Joanna Guittari Criminal Justice: Charles Lieberman, Brenda Vollman Earth & Environmental Science: Lee Hachadoorian Economics: Francois de Paul Silatchom Engineering Biomedical: Ericka Calton Engineering Civil: Rouzbeh Nazari French: Chong Wojtkowski Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Literature: Hyon Kim History: David Golland, Kevin McGruder (via proxy: Joseph Sramek) Linguistics: Alexandra Ioannidou Mathematics: Hieu T. Nguyen Music PhD: Dan Partridge, Megan Jenkins Political Science: Christopher Poulios, Aleta Styers, Jen Gaboury Psychology Environmental: Stephanie Domenici Psychology Forensic: Virginia Fineran (by proxy: Megan Schaffer) Psychology Learning Processes: Adrienne Robek Psychology Social Personality: Valerie Futch Speech and Hearing Sciences: Jung Moon Hyun Theatre: Kate Wilson Urban Education: Donal Mulcahy At Large: David Aliano, Celia Braxton, Moira Egan (by proxy: Tina Lee), James Hoff, Ian Jones, Matt Lau, Binh Pok, Pamela Proscia, Thomas Rodman, Nelly St. Maurice, Spencer Sunshine, Nelson Tiburcio (by proxy: David Golland), Joseph Valley, Michael Westbrook
Non-Voting Alternates Present:
Speech and Hearing Sciences: Yan Helen Yu
Members Absent:
Art History: Daniel Quiles Biochemistry: Jianghua Yin (excused) Business: Kate McPadden (excused) Chemistry: Hasan Yumak Classics: Pat Brooks Computer Science: Sumon Azhar Educational Psychology: Kallen Tsikalas, Leslie Craigo Engineering Electrical: Muhammad Salim English: Adriana Tomasino (excused) German: Marie Giurrieri Liberal Studies: Cam McDonald Music DMA: Barbara Podgurski (excused)
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Philosophy: Jennifer Jensen, Christopher Sula Physics: Huafeng Xie (excused) Psychology Biological: Alicia Walton Psychology Clinical: Nora Goudsmit Psychology Developmental: Aloka Star Felty Psychology Industrial/Organizational: Marissa Agin Social Welfare: William Cabin
Sociology: Emily Mahon, Antonia Levy At Large: Samrat Singh Batth (excused), Patrina Huff (excused), Dorian Luey, Camille Tipton (excused)
Guests Present:
GSUC President William P. Kelley Zeeshan Suhail Dion Powell Dwight Dunckley
Total Members and Voting Alternates Present: 44. Non-Voting Alternates Present: 1. Members Absent: 30. Guests present: 4. Quorum established to conduct business.
Chair: Tina Lee Minutes: Brenda Vollman
The meeting commenced at 6:05pm
I. Invited Speaker: Dr. William P. Kelly, President, GSUC—expected arrival: 7:00pm – D. Golland suggested we insert President Kelly into the agenda at the point in which he arrived.
II. Approval of December Minutes (3 min.) to approve by C Lieberman; second C. Wojtkowski (unanimous)
III. Approval of Agenda (2 min.) Motion Approval of December 2005 Plenary minutes – Motion D. Golland; second C. Wojtkowski (unanimous)
IV. Old Business
A.
Filling At-Large Vacancies (D. Golland) 1. 8 nominees for at-large – 5 are present today
2. An impartial person (Dion Powell) came forward to select names randomly from and envelope
3. The names were drawn in the following order (the first 5 being ones who have been selected as at-large reps)
a) Vernon Lucas (not present) b) Matt Lau (present; accepted) c) Samrat Singh Batth (not present) d) Thomas Radman (not present) e) Pattrina Huff (not present) f) Aaron Ibur
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V.
Co-chair for Student Affairs Report – Stef (15 min) A. IDS Review Committee—two nominations – this is a committee that reviews independent study course proposals. There are about 3 midday meetings in the semester, and we need 2 volunteers
B.
C.
g) Zeeshan Suhail h) Adam Goldwin
Travel and Research (L. Hachadoorian)
1. We have decided to recommend to the administration, after a poll asking when conferences occur over the course of the school year, to divide the pot of funds into two sessions, depending on when conferences are being held (to begin Fall 2006)
a) Session 1 Fall: Sept 1 – Jan 31 b) session 2 Spring: Feb 1 – Aug 31
2. T. Lee stated that the fund is still currently open, unlike in other years when it is out of money by this time.
Tech Fee Committee Report-Ian (7 min.)
1. Met with Administration last semester and asked for an orientation to the systems 2. Next meeting is in early march – if anyone would like to go, please give your name to Ian for the list. 3. OIT is planning on Wireless, but not for the entire building, but the question came up as to whether or not we should focus more on stability rather than implementing wireless. 4. The plan for wireless is currently for the Library, Admin offices and the DSC areas, but Ian is also thinking that it is important to have it in the Cafeteria and in the Department areas. 5. In regards to stability – the opinion of admin is that the network is ONLY down when they are doing maintenance.
a) Ian has a list of day/times when the system is down b) If anyone experiences any problems, email the details to dsc.steering.committee@gmail.com
6. An open discussion ensued regarding the importance of wireless or stability with no final conclusion, but rather a variety of input regarding the importance of both (although it was pointed out by B. Pok that wireless is easier to do than to maintain network stability, and that students would still need to have their laptops configured for the network. B. Pok believes that it would be better to change the network system in order to increase the effectiveness of the overall network.)
B.
1. Steph 2. Kate Wilson (Theatre) 3. Chong 4. Julia Wrigley is the chair and she will get your emails
Chartered Org. News 1. We have had a record number of chartered org responses 2. There are two that are on their way to being de-chartered
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C.
a) Comp. Machinery b) Democratic Socialists
3. If you know anyone affiliated with either of these then tell Steph so she can help them avoid being de-chartered if they are still active.
News from Pres. Kelly’s Community Meeting 1. Anyone can come to the community meeting and you can raise student issues
2. The ADA doors to the lobby of the GC was a big topic (D. Golland will discuss more later)
3. Paul talked about the Writing Fellows and asked of the stipend could be increased – e- mail Steph if you have feelings about it – but it is, in the long run, an 80th street decision.
4. Kate Wilson suggested that there be a clause added that Fellows under the old format not get shut out.
VI. Co-chair for Business Report – Tina (2 min)
A. Please spend your allocations! – BY next week Tina indicated that she would have the Departmental enrollment figures and that she would email them.
VII. Co-chair for Communications Report – Dave (20 min)
A. BOT Update: Nursing D.N.S. Tri-Campus Program Approved for September B. Website Move—Auto-Forwarding, Chartered Org URLs, Virtual Voting, Blogs, and Polls – this will be effective in a few weeks, but it will not be forever. It is sending a message to the Tech dept. The DSC URL will be redirected, and the advocate can migrate to that server as well. There will also be the opportunity to have dedicated URLs for chartered orgs – but on the basis of “use it or lose it,” as with their offices.
C. ADA Door – In April 2005, in observance of Disabilities Awareness Month, DSC passed a resolution pertaining to issues of persons with disabilities. The resolution referred to the fact that locking the ADA doors was not a good idea and the DSC was opposed to such action in the winter or at any time. President Kelly took action without having received the resolution – and his action was to implement a buzzer system that cost about $5,000. The thought was that security guard sick days were correlated with a cold lobby, and that would be solved with the buzzer systems (buzz – external door is opened by security – external door closes – internal door is the opened remotely by security). Apparently the guards are following the rules.
1. C. Lieberman indicated that he has seen them not honor the rules – today specifically 2. D. Golland – other students have expressed concerns that this is making persons with disabilities more excluded 3. Paul suggested a bigger sign posting the door as for use by persons with disabilities only. 4. The position of the Steering Committee is that they go back to the old way until a better permanent solution can be developed to heat the vestibule – we prefer an airlock door.
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• • •
This would solve the PhD attrition MA problem if the GC grants the MA There are colleges that are weak in some areas and the GC could fill in those gaps This would allow programs to think differently about how they admit students
D.
5. A question was raised about the possibility of space heaters – 6. A. Robeck asked – “if one reports the guards for not abiding by the guidelines, is there disciplinary action? “ 7. D. Golland pointed out that it is more important that those who are subjected to the rule violation have immediate redress.
Perez v. CUNY & Quorum Revisited 1. As Pertains to the DSC – does not pertain to DSC.
7:05pm AT THIS POINT PRES. KELLY entered ----
Pres. Kelly indicated that he would be happy to talk about anything. Paul asked an intro question about getting a Board Member to establish a GC Housing Committee. Pres. Kelly indicated that the BOT is a bit removed from college issues, and he also said that BOT committees are the ones that are really making decisions. The GC has the Foundation Board (a fundraising agency) with 19 members whose sole task is fundraising for GC, with the additional task – introduced under Pres. Horowitz and continued under Pres. Kelly to help with student housing. The problem is that the GC has no equity to invest. There is a deal underway, but . . .the question is whether or not it will actually go through.
F. Silatchom asked if we could get subsidies from the state to build buildings.
President Kelly responded that SUNY has a huge interest in whether or not CUNY can get subsidies. CUNY does not have dorms, while SUNY does. We are looking at public/private deals.
E. Calton asked – what is “affordable?”
Pres. Kelly responded that 2 yrs ago a survey was conducted by an outside agency (cost: $40,000) in which there were about 800 responses with a lot of conflicting info – but the range was about $1000 - $1100 per person – and the though was that there would be singles, doubles, triples. Developers were saying they could do it for $1300 - $1400 per bed.
J. Hoff asked: “Who authorized the $40,000 for the survey?”
Pres. Kelly responded that non-tax levy monies were used for the survey. This was a Lehman Bothers deal that needed an independent entity to conduct the study and analysis in order to keep the deal.
C. Braxton asked: what about the Governor’s Island Property?
Pres. Kelly responded that it was looked into, but it was not ADA compliant, there were no services or even bodegas, no good ferry arrangement.
J. Hoff: is there a plan to offer MAs in the English Dept?
Pres. Kelly: GC is unique because it is the only PhD granting institution, although it also has 7 MA programs – The problem is that MA/BA programs help to finance Doctoral programs, and PhD students are often used as teachers – there is a tacit agreement that the individual colleges will NOT grant PhDs, but soon they may do so, jointly with the GC - in the sciences. If so, he is hoping we’ll be able to offer more Mas.
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It is a delicate political decision, and right now the GC does not have space.
L. Hachadoorian asked about off campus class accounting – number of students per class and having to go to the GC to take classes.
Pres. Kelly indicated that it is a numbers /budget issue related to finding ways to share costs between institutions, and on Feb 23-24 there will be a visiting delegation from CUNY regarding the management of SCIENCE students who are falling through the cracks as the result of “turf” issues between colleges.
K. Wilson asked if the administration was waiting for the non-chancellor fellow cohort to disappear.
Pres. Kelly responded with an apology that it seemed as such and that the new system is designed to make the allocations and experience better than it had been in the past. 7:45pm the President concluded AGENDA RESUMED [Communications Report/Perez v. CUNY & Quorum Revisited (VII-D)]
VIII.
Health Services Committee – Celia, Ericka (5 min) A. Update on Survey – E. Calton – nothing new on survey B. Student Health Insurance Guide – C. Braxton – there are hard copies of the new guides and this is also on the web [GC web> Current Students> Student Health (insurance guide)]
2. As Pertains to Graduate Council: March 2 & May 11, 2:30-4:00, Rm. GC 9206/7 – Grad Council is affected by new Quorum rules
E. Grad Council Structure Committee—1 nomination to replace a no-show or possible resignation from the committee. This committee evaluates program governance and the structures of the Grad Council (meets 2x a semester)
F.
1. Aaron Ibur
SERC Committee 1. 05-06: 2 nominations (1 student [Rouzbeh Nazari], 1 non-student faculty or staff [Narka Flocker – staff]) 2. 06-07: 3 nominations (1 student, 2 non-student faculty or staff [tabled until March plenary])
IX. USS Report – Charles (10 min.)
X.
A. B. C. D. quorum
Perez v. CUNY DOES apply to USS USS had voted (without proper quorum) to increase fees from students ($0.85 ? $3.00) They have not had a revote and those minutes did pass They tabled the December minutes and Charles tried to make a motion that they voted without
Grad Council Committee Reports (varied/as necessary) – NO REPORTS PRESENTED
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XI. New Business A. Survey on Debt and Living Expenses? – C. Braxton (5 min) – Report for Trustees about our financial concerns – should we do a web poll? We could turn these into news items. We need to get the BOT on our side about our needs and concerns. B. Formation of Constitution & Bylaws Committee –L. Hachadoorian (5 min.) – this is useful to look at and change out constitution if it is needed. If you are interested, please volunteer (you may do so through email to the DSC email address) C. Other New Business (5 min.) – NO OTHER NEW BUSINESS
XII. Announcements (2 min.) A. GC HAPPY HOUR: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5-9pm! (1st date, Thurs. Feb. 23) - Stef - free snacks will be included. Please come so it is successful. B. Help stuff nomination ballot envelopes after the meeting! Refreshments served! This will last about one hour and you can receive a free movie ticket C. DSC Coffee Hour – February 23 3:00 – 6:30pm – Tina – please come D. T Feb 14 4pm Adjunct meeting – location to be announced ---TH Feb 16 there is an AM rally in front of the PSC negations at 40 Rector St (9am – 10am) – this is important because the framework of the agreement gives adjuncts zero – and the healthcare changes are problematic. E. Please Buy Movie Tix – they expire April 30th .
8:07pm - Meeting Adjourned: D. Golland motion, C. Wojtkowski second - unanimous